The Florida Keys are the most popular SCUBA diving and snorkeling destination in the
world. The primary attraction is the 220-mile long Florida Reef Tract (FRT), the only living coral
reef ecosystem within the continental United States, which attracts some 2.5 million tourists a year.
Coral reefs are among the most productive and diverse ecosystems in the world and, as such, are
comparable to their terrestrial counterparts-- tropical rainforests. Coral reefs grow as a thin veneer
of living coral tissue on the outside of the hermatypic (reef-forming) skeleton and accrete massive
limestone formations over geologic time. Coral reefs have evolved over hundreds of millions of
years in tropical and subtropical waters that typically have very low concentrations of dissolved
inorganic nutrients.
Member of
Contributors
Publisher
Environment Canada, Atlantic Region
Date Issued
2001
Note
Language
Type
Genre
Form
Extent
9 p.
Subject (Topical)
Identifier
FA00007356
Additional Information
The Florida Keys are the most popular SCUBA diving and snorkeling destination in the
world. The primary attraction is the 220-mile long Florida Reef Tract (FRT), the only living coral
reef ecosystem within the continental United States, which attracts some 2.5 million tourists a year.
Coral reefs are among the most productive and diverse ecosystems in the world and, as such, are
comparable to their terrestrial counterparts-- tropical rainforests. Coral reefs grow as a thin veneer
of living coral tissue on the outside of the hermatypic (reef-forming) skeleton and accrete massive
limestone formations over geologic time. Coral reefs have evolved over hundreds of millions of
years in tropical and subtropical waters that typically have very low concentrations of dissolved
inorganic nutrients.
world. The primary attraction is the 220-mile long Florida Reef Tract (FRT), the only living coral
reef ecosystem within the continental United States, which attracts some 2.5 million tourists a year.
Coral reefs are among the most productive and diverse ecosystems in the world and, as such, are
comparable to their terrestrial counterparts-- tropical rainforests. Coral reefs grow as a thin veneer
of living coral tissue on the outside of the hermatypic (reef-forming) skeleton and accrete massive
limestone formations over geologic time. Coral reefs have evolved over hundreds of millions of
years in tropical and subtropical waters that typically have very low concentrations of dissolved
inorganic nutrients.
Florida Atlantic University. Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute contribution 1404
This manuscript is an author version with the
final publication available and may be cited as: Lapointe, B. E. (2001). Nutrient over-enrichment of
South Florida’s coral reefs: how science and management failed to protect a national treasure. In T.
Chopin & P. G. Wells (Eds.), Opportunities and challenges for protecting, restoring and enhancing
coastal habitats in the Bay of Fundy: proceedings of the 4th Bay of Fundy Science Workshop (pp. 9-16).
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia: Environment Canada, Atlantic Region.
final publication available and may be cited as: Lapointe, B. E. (2001). Nutrient over-enrichment of
South Florida’s coral reefs: how science and management failed to protect a national treasure. In T.
Chopin & P. G. Wells (Eds.), Opportunities and challenges for protecting, restoring and enhancing
coastal habitats in the Bay of Fundy: proceedings of the 4th Bay of Fundy Science Workshop (pp. 9-16).
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia: Environment Canada, Atlantic Region.
Date Backup
2001
Date Text
2001
Date Issued (EDTF)
2001
Extension
FAU
IID
FA00007356
Person Preferred Name
Lapointe, Brian E.
blapoin1@fau.edu
Physical Description
9 p.
Title Plain
Nutrient over-enrichment ofSouth Florida’s coral reefs: how science and management failed to protect a national treasure
Origin Information
2001
Environment Canada, Atlantic Region
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Place
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Title
Nutrient over-enrichment ofSouth Florida’s coral reefs: how science and management failed to protect a national treasure
Other Title Info
Nutrient over-enrichment ofSouth Florida’s coral reefs: how science and management failed to protect a national treasure